Issued by: Dept. of Foreign Affairs
PRESS STATEMENT ON MEETING BETWEEN SUDANESE PRESIDENT EL BASHIR AND UGANDAN PRESIDENT YUWERI MUSEVENI, IN NAIROBI, KENYA, ON 8 DECEMBER 1999
The South African Government has noted with pleasure the recent meeting between Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Sudandese President Omar el Bashir, held in Nairobi, Kenya on 8 December 1999, as part of a mediation initiative by former US President Jimmy Carter and the Carter Centre.
The South African Government wishes to commend both Presidents for signing the agreement that commits their countries to cease military and logistical support for any rebel group from each other's territories, and not to harbour or sponsor the rebels. The agreement will also restore full diplomatic relations between the two countries by February 2000.
The Government expresses the hope that this milestone agreement will give much needed and renewed impetus to the ongoing Sudanese Peace Process, especially since the IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) led initiative has been struggling due to amongst other things, tension between its member states Sudan and Uganda.
The South African Government also wishes to commend the recent Presidential pardon and announcement by the Sudanese Government to release the two Catholic priests, who were accused of a series of bomb attacks in Khartoum in June 1998, as well as the release of the other prisoners being held for the same reason. The concern of the Sudanese Catholic Bishops' Conference regarding the imprisonment of the two priests was conveyed to the South African Government before Deputy Foreign Minister Pahad's recent visit to Khartoum in November 1999. During his visit he conveyed this concern to the Sudanese authorities.
South Africa further takes note of other positive developments in Sudan, namely the scheduled parliamentary elections due to be held early in 2000, as well as the "Homeland Call Agreement" that was recently entered into between President El Bashir and Sadiq El Mahdi, leader of the largest opposition party, the Umma Party, and last elected Prime Minister of Sudan.
South Africa again calls on all parties involved in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, to continue to intensify their efforts in the search for a speedy, negotiated resolution to the conflict, so that the focus can shift towards much needed development and social upliftment in Sudan. The South African government again wishes to reiterate its full support for the ongoing IGAD Sudanese Peace initiative, under the chairmanship of Kenya, as the only viable option to achieve lasting peace in Sudan.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs Pretoria
10 DECEMBER 1999